Every year around April 22, people around the world return to their roots, literally, and take stock of eco-friendly practices and environmental initiatives.
Some deliberately take action to support the “Green Amendment” in the Pennsylvania state constitution, which is viewed as containing the strongest environmental rights amendment in the country. The state's constitution Article 1, Section 27, states: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment."
Though the days of actual observances vary by group, the April 22 date was founded in the United States by US Sen. Gaylord Nelson in 1970. It's based on the principal that humans are caretakers, or trustees, of natural resources that should be conserved and maintained for the benefit of all people.
For ideas about observing Earth Day locally, see the Calendar department of this month's edition.
To tap into a citywide celebration to educate and inspire sustainability in the region, consider Pittsburgh Earth Day. Honoring the transformation from Pittsburgh’s Steel City past to a thriving home for green innovation, LEED-certified development, farm-to-table initiatives and environmentally-friendly events, Pittsburgh Earth Day honors the collaboration of businesses, community organizations and green purveyors. To join the activities or to get ideas, visit PittsburghEarthDay.org.
5 Ways to Honor Earth Day
- Check out activities of the Chester County Environment Alliance, an alliance of 25 independent organizations whose representatives work together to protect and enhance the environment throughout the county.
- Start personal composting with vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings, grass cuttings, cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves.
- Invest in a reusable coffee/beverage tumbler.
- Use eco-friendly cleaning products.
- Organize a community outdoor cleanup event or an environmental fair.
